Germany would never do that!
That’s why it’s falling apart.
Defense chief rejects claims Germany puts its own arms industry ahead of Europe – Boris Pistorius says protecting national weapons manufacturers is a problem common to all EU countries.
German of the day: Streichen. That means to cut. As in jobs.
‘Industry crisis’: Germany’s auto sector faces fresh cuts as Schaeffler axes 3,460 jobs and eyes defense – Car parts maker Schaeffler said Tuesday it would cut 3,460 jobs and shutter five of its sites across Europe, blaming an “automotive industry crisis” amid a struggle against economic headwinds, overseas competition and technological change.
Approximately 2,660 of the jobs and four of the five sites affected are in Germany, including Schaeffler’s plants in Dortmund and Morbach, which manufacture products for internal combustion engines. Operations will also be discontinued at its Berlin and Schwalbach sites, and toolmaking will cease at Höchstadt. Capacity will be adjusted in Haguenau and Toulouse, France, as well as Skalica and Kysuce in Slovakia.
That means a serious signal.
46,000 Jobs Lost: German Corporations Lead the EU in Job Cuts — “a serious signal.”
In 2025, leading German corporations cut significantly more jobs worldwide than companies in France, Spain, or Italy. Workforces are shrinking dramatically, especially at large corporations.
The German economy is in crisis. One bankruptcy follows another. But things aren’t looking particularly rosy internationally either. Nevertheless, companies in Germany are cutting significantly more jobs than firms in Spain, France, or Italy.
And their cars do too.
Volkswagen, Audi to recall almost 1 million cars in Germany – Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to a potential steering fault.
Germany auto firm Volkswagen (VW) and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to steering problems, according to German media reports.
The KBA road traffic authority was cited by the t-online news portal as saying that the recall was required due to potential bolt failures that could damage the steering gearbox or, in some cases, cause a complete loss of steering.
Sooner or later they’ll figure out that this is bat shit crazy.
Germany sets out plan to phase out fossil fuels by 2045 – Germany has said it plans to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas by 2045, reaffirming a climate strategy focused on electrification.
“Our road map is intended to set an international example. I am sure that many other countries will follow.”
And it’s too high, in Germany.
Mercedes-Benz production in Germany is not competitive by international standards, in particular due to high labour costs, the premium automaker said on Tuesday, after a top executive warned workers that two plants could close.
The company wants to maintain plants and employment in Germany, it said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “But to do that, we need framework conditions that boost productivity in Germany,” it added.
That means insolvency.
German corporate insolvencies hit 13-year high in first half – The number of corporate insolvencies in Germany rose to a 13-year high in the first half of 2026 despite signs of a nascent recovery in Europe’s largest economy, figures from the federal statistics office showed on Friday.
Local courts reported 12,812 corporate insolvency filings from January to June, an increase of 6.7% year-on-year, with transportation and warehousing the most affected sectors.
I think this warning is coming a little too late.
Warning Systems in Germany Are Being Tested – Can authorities reach and warn the public in an emergency? That will be tested today starting at 11 a.m. as part of the nationwide Warning Day. In the past, gaps in the system have repeatedly come to light.
Across Germany, disaster warning systems will be tested on Thursday morning starting at 11 a.m. On the nationwide Warning Day, the federal government, states, and local authorities will trigger a test alert via various channels—including official warning apps such as Nina and Katwarn, as well as the cell broadcast system for cell phones. The media and electronic display boards will also broadcast warning messages. An all-clear is expected to be issued around 11:45 a.m.
I wonder who wins?
Labor Costs, Sick Leave, Productivity: Confidential Document: VW Compares German and Chinese Workers.
Ten percent of VW workers in Germany are sick at any given time. In China it’s less than two percent.
But at least in China these workers will soon be replaced by robots who will be working 24/7 and never call in sick.
So what’s the big deal?
But plan to dress warmly this winter anyway.
Germany risks missing gas storage target as industry faces cold-winter threat – Germany will miss its November gas-storage target if injections continue at their current pace, the country’s storage association has warned. Although there is no immediate gas shortage, low storage levels combined with a very cold winter could threaten industrial production in the country…
German storage facilities were approximately 51.5% full on 25 August, compared with around 69% a year earlier. Germany is required to reach an aggregate filling level of 70% by 1 November.
